Nordost vs. Transparent...which is better?

Both lines are overrated and over priced IMO.

There are cables that offer equal or better performance for lower prices. Consider Acoustic Zen, Virtual Dynamics, PAD, Silversmith, Cardas, Alpha Core Goertz, etc. before these lines. You will not be disappointed.

there are numerous price points within both Nordost and Transparent; if you are asking about the very top level of each product.....i am familiar with both. i own 2 sets of Nordost Valhalla interconnect (i use to own 6 sets) and 2 sets of Transparent Opus speaker cables. i have tried both Valhalla speaker cable and Opus interconnect in my system.

i have had at least 20 other brands of cables in my system for comparison since 2000 and prefer my cables to any i have heard. i do prefer Opus interconnects to my Valhalla but i have not yet found the budget to upgrade (although i plan to).

to directly answer your question; at the top of the line i consider Transparent Opus (or it's one step down Reference MM) the very best cables i have heard......but they are truely 'silly expensive'). the Nordost Valhalla is certainly one of the better cables out there. the Valhalla can be too open and energetic for some systems.....so some consider it 'hot' or 'edgy'. that tells you more about the system it is used in than the Valhalla. i would think in your system which is a bit on the 'mellow' side the Nordost Valhalla would be quite synergistic. the Opus would be on another level beyond that.

to be fair; i have only done a few comparisons in the last couple of years so their are many cables i have not tried.

as always; YMMV.

I just went through a similar comparison - Cremona speakers with a Mark Levinson 432 amp, Classe CP-65 pre. We compared Nordost Baldur and Heimdahl and Transparent Plus, Super and Ultra interconnects and speaker cables. My experience was as Mikelavigne described - the Nordost were open but also thin and "edgy". The Transparent were much richer, with better base, better soundstage and still were very detailed. We ended up with the Transparent Ultra, although the Super were quite acceptable. As always, their is no substitute for demoing with your equipment.

Transparent actually has Guarneri speakers in their listening room. If you go to their website and take the "tour" there is a picture of Jack and Karen Sumner (actually the back of their heads) listening to Guarneri.

Just to be clear...I don't think Mike said the Nordost is "thin and edgy"...I think he said it can expose these qualities in other system components.
I think the Nordost can be excellent in the right application...as can many other cables.

asking which cable is better is like asking which is better, blue or red ?

the answer depends upon the characteristics you value in cable performance and only you can answer this question by comparing them in your own system.